BEMIDJI, Minn. – Bemidji State University men's hockey junior defenseman Hudson Thornton has been named the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Defenseman of the Week, the league announced Monday afternoon in the league's first weekly awards of the 2026-27 season.
 
Thornton helped lead the Beavers to a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory over in-state rival St. Cloud State University in their 2026-27 season opener Friday night at Sanford Center. He recorded a goal and an assist, finished with a plus-2 rating and scored the game-winning goal in overtime.
 
The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native contributed to two of Bemidji State's three goals and tied for the team lead with two points. Thornton also tied for the team lead with five shots on goal and did not commit a penalty during the contest.
 
Thornton is joined by Michigan Tech's Matthew Van Blaricom (Offense) and Northern Michigan's Oliver Auyeung-Ashton (Goaltender) and Coster Dunn (Rookie) as the league's first weekly award winners of the season.
 
Thornton and the rest of the Bemidji State Beavers now prepare for a home-and-home series against University of North Dakota beginning Friday, Oct. 9 at Sanford Center.
 
For the most up to date information on the Bemidji State men's hockey program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com or follow the Beavers on X, Instagram or like them on Facebook.
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and women's hockey in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
 
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